Shloka 6
Adhyāya 152: Kaurava-sainyavibhāgaḥ
Division and Standardization of the Kaurava Host
धष्टद्युम्नश्व॒ पाज्चाल्य: शिखण्डी च महारथ: । युधामन्युश्न विक्रान्तो देवैरपि दुरासद:
Janamejaya uvāca |
Dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pāñcālyaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |
Yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānto devair api durāsadaḥ, tapodhana |
Pāṇḍavā bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo virāṭaḥ drupadaḥ pāñcālarājakumāraḥ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ mahārathī śikhaṇḍī tathā devatābhir api durjayo mahāparākramaḥ yudhāmanyuḥ—ete sarve tu saṅgrāme ekatrībhūte indrasahitaṃ sampūrṇaṃ devagaṇaṃ api pīḍayituṃ śaknuvanti; ataḥ tatra kauravaiḥ pāṇḍavaiś ca yo-yo karma kṛtaṃ tat sarvaṃ vistareṇa śrotum icchāmi |
Janamejaya dit : «Ô ascète aux grandes austérités, Dhṛṣṭadyumna des Pāñcāla, le grand guerrier de char Śikhaṇḍin, et le vaillant Yudhāmanyu—difficile à assaillir même pour les dieux—avec les Pāṇḍava, le Bienheureux Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Virāṭa, Drupada et le prince pāñcāla Dhṛṣṭadyumna : si tous ceux-là se rassemblent au combat, ils pourraient troubler jusqu’à l’armée entière des dieux menée par Indra. C’est pourquoi je souhaite entendre, dans le moindre détail, tout ce que firent là les Kaurava et les Pāṇḍava.»
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective strength and righteous alliances can become formidable, while also modeling the ethical posture of inquiry: Janamejaya seeks a detailed account of actions (karma) by both sides, implying that understanding consequences and conduct is essential for judging dharma within conflict.
Janamejaya addresses the ascetic narrator and lists major Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors and kings, emphasizing their battle power—so great it could distress even the gods led by Indra. On that basis he requests a full, detailed narration of what the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas did in that situation.